Concerns prior to the hearing aid fitting and its implications on the user’s subjective benefit

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss affects quality of life of the individual, limiting the ability to communicate. One of the features used to minimize its effects is the use of hearing aids. Thus, it is necessary to understand the concerns that affect the user of this new feature; they can interfere in the process of adaptation. SUMMARY: To investigate the level of concern and subjective benefit of hearing aid users and to correlate these variables, checking if they are interrelated. Method: Study of 28 elderly people over 60 years, new users of hearing aids. We submitted the application of two questionnaires. The first investigated the concerns prior to the use of hearing aids and was applied before the subjects had contact with them. The other questionnaire (IOI - HA) measured the level of subjective benefit and was applied 15 days after the adaptation. Results: In the questionnaire regarding concerns, 67.85% of the subjects have had a score of seven points, which means a low level of concern. As for the score of the questionnaire of subjective benefit IOI - HA, 57.14% of the subjects have had score greater than or equal to 28.5 points, which shows a positive assessment of the use of hearing aids. There was no correlation between the results obtained in the questionnaires. Conclusion: We found a low level of concern and a positive evaluation of the use of hearing aids. After analyzing the data, we verified that the concerns did not affect the subjective benefit reported by the patient.